Moving-picture apparatus.



J. J. CONNELLY.

MOVING PICTURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION HLED NOV. :3. 1914.

1,156,21 1. Patented 0ct.12,1915.

."owmnm PLANOGRAPH COHWASHINGTON. n. c.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFIQ.

JAMES J. CONNELLY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

MOVING-PICTURE APPARATUS.

Application filed November 13, 1914.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JAMES J. CoNNnLLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Moving-Picture Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to small hand operated motion picture devices of that kind comprising a casing in which a series of pietures is adapted to be rotated with suflicient rapidity to cause the objects or figures shown in the pictures to produce the effect of being in motion.

The objects of this invention are to provide a device of this character which is of simple and inexpensive construction and can be readily taken apart and put together; also to provide simple and practical means for mounting and displaying the pictures to the best possible advantage; and also to reinforce the picture-carrying cards, slips or members so that they will not be creased or broken so as to lose their resilience and les sen the efficiency of the device.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying the invention with part of the casing broken away. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the device. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation thereof. Fig. 5 is a cross section of the picture carrier on line 5-5, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail section of the carrier showing one of the picture-holding slips and its reinforcement. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one form of the combined locking clip and picture stop. F 8 shows a modified construction of the same.

The device consists primarily of an outside casing and a picture-candor, drum or member rotatably mounted therein to which the picture-carrying cards or slips are attached.

The outer casing preferably consists of two metallic sections 1 and 2 which are of substantially the same proportions. Each of these sections consists of an outer cylindrical. wall and an annular end wall having a circular opening formed at the central portion thereof, and the two sections are adapted to telescope one within the other in order to form the casing. Flanges 3 and 4 extend inwardly from the edges of the central opening of the end walls parallel to the outer cylindrical walls of the sections.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

Serial No. 871,937.

These flanges are of such length that when the sections of the casing are together the edges of the flanges extend to within a short distance of each other and form an axleflor bearing upon which the hub of the picturecarrying spool or drum is mounted and re volved.

5 represents a V-shaped view aperture in the peripheral portion of the casing through which the pictures to be displayed may be seen. To form this aperture portions of both telescopic sections are cut away sufficiently so that the pictures mounted on the rotary carrier within the casing are easily visible.

6 represents a drum or spool which is rotatablv mounted within the casing to turn on the flanges'3, at as a bearing and which serves as a carrier for the series of pictures which it is desired to display. This drum preferably consists of a cylindrical metal ring or body having short outwardly extending parallel end flanges 7 formed integrally therewith.

8 represents a number of blocks of wood or other suitable material arranged around the circumference of the spool between the end flanges thereof for clamping between them the cards or slips bearing the pictures. These blocks are substantially wedge-shape and are of such length as to fit between the end flanges 7, against which their ends abut while their inner edges rest on the cylindrical body of the spool. Narrow grooves 9 are formed in the outer edge of each of the segmental wooden blocks near the ends thereof for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

10 represents strips or pieces of cardboard, heavy paper or other suitable flexible material on which the pictures to be dis played are printed or otherwise fixed in any suitable manner. These strips have their inner edges clamped between the sides of the clamping blocks 8. Short strips ll also preferably made of card-board or paper of the same width as the picture-supporting strips, are inserted between the blocks 8 against the faces of the picture slips or cards and serve to reinforce and stiffen them. These reinforcing strips prevent the picture slips from being creased or broken when they are flexed or bent backwardly in the operation of the device, as hereinafter explained.

12 represents small holes formed in the picture-supporting strips 10 near the sides thereof, and 13 like openings formed inth-e reinforcing strips 11 so located that when the strips 10 and 11 are in position between the blocks 8 the respective openings therein will register and lie adjacent to the grooves 9 of the segmental blocks 8. Wires 1-1 are threaded through the holes 12 and 13 and lie in the grooves 9, serving both to keep the blocks in position on the hub of the drum and also to keep the picture-supporting slips 10 and the reinforcing strips 11 in place. After the wooden blocks and the picturecarrying iind re'inforcing strips are in place on the drum the wires are positioned in the grooves in the outer edges of the clamping blocks and are drawn tight, in order to prevent any movement of the blocks or slips, and have the ends thereof fastened in some suitable manner, as shown at 15. The series of blocks is contracted about the body of the carrier by tightening the wires, and they tightly grip the picture slips and hold them stationary on the carrier. WVhile there are preferably two of these wires used in connection with the two series of slots in the blocks and the two holes in each picture carrying strip and its reinforcement, a single wire may be substituted therefor passing through a. groove formed between the ends of the segmentalblock and through single openings adjacent thereto ineach of the supports and reinforcements.

A transverse bar 16 has its ends see red in any suitable manner to the body of the carrier between the ends thereof, and has a screwthreaded hole 17 in the middlethereof adapted to receive the threaded end of a crank or handle 18 which is used for rotating the spool. As the ends of the inwardly extendi 1g flanges 3 and 4: of the casing do not meet, a circular space 19 is formed in which the bar 16, when turning the carrier, travels. The screw hole 17 and handle portion 18 are preferably constructed so that the end of the handle can be fastened to the transverse bar from either side of the casing and the drum can be rotated in either direction. ltis thus possible to run the pictures backward, which adds to the amusement which can be derived from the device. A handle or device for turning the carrier could be secured thereto in any other suitable way. H

20 represents a locking device or clip which secures together the two parts 1and2 of the casing and engages the outer edge of the picture slips for flexing them so as to cause the pictures to snap or spring quickly into view in the view opening of the casing. As shown in Figs. 1 to 7, this device consists of two parallel i-shaped side portions 21 having the upper extremities thereof connected by cross bars 22 and having flanges 23 extending inwardly and downwardly therefrom adapted to embrace the end Walls of the casing together.

Qof the casing sections at the sides of the view aperture 5 for holding the two sections A projection or tongue 2a is formed integrally with one of the cross bars and projects downwardly into the view aperture so as to engage, the outer ends of the picture-carrying strips. A. rear wardly extending portion 25 extends from the lower edge ofthe tongue to the cylindrical wall of the casing and serves to strengthen the tongue and keep it in position. This arrangement of the tongue causes the picture-carrying strips to be momentarily arrested and flexed as the spool is rotated so as to cause them to snap or spring quickly into view, and giving them the proper bend to display them to the best advantage and resulting in a clear and steady motion of the pictures.

Another form of clip is shown in Fig. 8. In this construction a tongue 26 is formed in such a manner that the side edges thereof are parallel to the sides 27 of the clip and are spaced therefrom so as to form slots 28 which are adaptedto receive and hold the side edges of the view aperture. The tongue projects into the view aperture and arrests the movement of the picture slips in the,

same manner asdoes the device shown in Fig. 7. Y The cylindrical walls of they inner and outer sections of'the casingarepreferably provided at points diametrically opposite the view opening with an inter-fitting bead or projection 29 and depression 30 which cooperate with the clip 20 for ,detachably securing the sections of the casing together.

31 represents a magnifying glass which can be provided in connection with theapparatus if desired, and which is movably mounted on the casing so that it can be po sitioned to enable the pictures to be viewed through'the same, or can be folded to a position in. which it lies close to the casing out of the way. As shown, this glass is pivoted on a supporting arm 32 which is suitably pivoted on the cylindrical wall of the outer section of the casing. The supporting arm is preferably curved to conform; to the curv-aj ture of the casing so as to lie close thereto.

By pivoting the magnifying glass on the The device can in this manner be utilized to display a number of different sets of pietures. v I v I The picture. strips being spaced well apart by the clamping blocks 8, one strip is flexed practically to the full extent by the tongue 24. before the next picture engages the tongue, as indicated in Fig. 2. This causes the pictures to spring into view separately or individually and effectually prevents two or more pictures from moving into view together, thus insuring a more perfect action of the device.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a moving picture apparatus, the combination of a casing having a view opening therein, a rotatable picture carrier mounted within said casing having outwardly extending flanges at the ends thereof, a number of clamping blocks arranged around said carrier between said flanges, picture-carrying strips adapted to be inserted between said blocks, means for securing said blocks and strips on said carrier, and means for rotating said carrier.

2. In a moving picture apparatus, the combination with a two-part casing having circuiar openings formed at the central portion of the ends thereof and a View aperture therein, flanges extending inwardly from the edges of said openings, a picture carrier mounted to rotate on said flanges, picturesupporting strips mounted on said carrier, means for reinforcing the lower portion of said strips, means for momentarily arresting and flexing the picture-carrying strips as they approach the view aperture, and means for rotating said carrier in said casing.

3. In a moving picture apparatus, the combination of a casing having a view aperture therein, a rotatable picture carrier in said casing, segmental blocks mounted on the periphery of said picture carrier and having grooves in the outer edges thereof, picture-carrying strips interposed between said blocks and having holes in the inner end portions thereof adapted to register with the grooves in the segmental blocks, relatively shorter reinforcing strips inserted between the blocks and the picture-carrying strips having holes therein registering with the grooves in the blocks and the holes in said strips, and a wire passing through the holes in the picture-carrying strips and the reinforcing strips and lying in said grooves in the blocks and adapted to hold the blocks and strips in position on said carrier.

4.. In a moving picture device, a rotatable picture arrier having outwardly extending flanges at the ends thereof, wedge-shaped locks surrounding said carrier between said flanges, picture-carrying strips interposed between said blocks, shorter reinforcing strips inserted between the blocks adjacent to the lower portion of said picture-carrying strips, and means for retaining the strips and the blocks in position on the peripher of the carrier.

In a moving picture apparatus, the combination with a two-part telescopic casing having a view aperture therein, of a clip having parts thereof adapted to embrace the walls of the casing at the sides of the view aperture and act as a securing device for the parts of the casing, and a tongue on. said clip adapted to extend inwardly into the view aperture.

(3. In a moving picture apparatus, the combination of a casing consisting of two telescopic sections having a V-shaped view aperture therein, and a V-shaped clip having flanges adapted to embrace the walls of the sections of the casing at the sides of the view aperture.

7. In a moving picture apparatus, a casing having a view aperture therein, a picture carrier rotatably mounted within said casing, picture-carrying slips arranged on said carrier, separate relatively shorter reinforcing slips arranged to reinforce the inner portions of such picture slips, means for securing the picture slips and the reinforcing slips in place on the picture carrier,

means for rotating said carrier, and means for flexing said picture-carrying slips.

8. In a moving picture apparatus, the combination with a casing having a view opening therein and comprising two telescopic parts having circular bearing members projecting inwardly toward each other from the end walls of said casing parts, of a picture carrier rotatably mounted within said casin on said bearing members and being removable from the casing by separating said parts of the casing, picturecarrying slips on said carrier, and means for rotating said carrier.

9. In a moving picture apparatus, a casing having a view aperture therein, a picture carrier rotatably mounted within said casing, )icture carrying slips arranged on said carrier, independent relatively shorter reinforcing slips arranged against the faces of said picture carrying slips, means for se curing the lower edges of the picture slips and the reinforcing slips in place on the picture carrier so that the upper edges of the picture slips and the reinforcing slips are free to move relatively to each other, means for rotating said carrier, and means for flexing said picture carrying slips.

IVitness my hand, this 11th day of November, 1914.

JAMES J. CONN ELLY.

lVitnesses K. E. IVILHELM, A. L. McGnE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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